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DENVER (KDVR) Severe weather, including multiple tornadoes and egg-sized hail, was experienced in Colorado on Sunday, as hail, high winds and some rain swept the region.
Officials confirmed tornadoes touched down near Bennett and Parker, with Adams County officials reporting at least 10 homes or buildings damaged or lost to the storm, and the Elizabeth Fire Protection District reporting 19 homes with minor to severe damage in its area.
The weather comes on the heels of deadly severe weather across much of the Midwest, with The Associated Press reporting that at least 27 people were killed during the aggressive storms, including 18 people in Kentucky.
No injuries were reported from Sunday’s severe weather in Colorado, but affiliate KDVR’s Shaul Turner learned that two dogs were reported missing from near Elizabeth in Elbert County.
Zachary Angotti, a partner of Flying B Bar Ranch, told KDVR’s Nate Belt that this storm was unlike anything else he’s experienced in 20 years of ranching in Adams County.
“It’s just chaos down here, I mean it looks like a warzone,” Angotti told Belt. “Looks like a half-mile wide of spinning destruction.”
He said that debris from neighbors miles away has ended up on his ranch. He’s grateful that his livestock made it out unscathed from the storm, but nearby, a camper was tipped onto its roof from the high winds. Nevertheless, the storm is another sign of community for the area.
“We drove up to the neighbors right after and there was 20 other neighbors there and pick-ups showing up every minute to help,” Angotti told Belt.
Tornadoes were reported at Manila Village and Bennett in Adams County, as well as Arapahoe Park and Manila Village in Arapahoe County. A funnel cloud was reported near Vernon, in Yuma County.
Hail was also reported in Sunday’s storm, with one report citing hail with a two-inch diameter near Burlington in Kit Carson County the National Weather Service says that’s equivalent to the size of a chicken egg. Here’s what hail sizes were reported to the National Weather Service between 8:15 p.m. on Saturday and 8:15 p.m. on Sunday.
County | Location | Hail size (inches) |
Arapahoe | 2 E Buckley AFB | 0.75 |
Arapahoe | 2 SW Arapahoe Park | 0.75 |
Arapahoe | 4 S Arapahoe Park | 1.5 |
Boulder | 2 NW Marshall | 0.75 |
Boulder | 3 NNW Marshall | 1 |
Kit Carson | 1 E Peconic | 1.25 |
Kit Carson | 11 NNE Burlington | 2 |
Kit Carson | 2 E Peconic | 0.5 |
Kit Carson | 4 NE Burlington | 1.75 |
Kit Carson | Burlington | 1.25 |
Logan | Iliff | 1 |
Weld | 1 W Johnstown | 0.75 |
Weld | 3 SE Mead | 0.75 |
Yuma | 2 ENE Vernon | 1.75 |
Yuma | 6 N Beecher Island | 1.25 |
Yuma | 7 SE Wray | 1 |
Yuma | Wray | 1 |
The National Weather Service will issue severe thunderstorm warnings when the storm is producing hail that is one inch in diameter or larger and exhibiting winds equalling or exceeding 58 mph.
KDVR viewers from across the eastern plains also sent in videos, photos and statements about what they saw, experienced and heard during Sunday’s severe weather. Viewers sent images of the funnel cloud, with one viewer catching a passenger jet flying in front of the swirling cloud.
Below is some of the damage seen by KDVR and viewers on Sunday.
Although most eyes were on the swirling winds out east, there were also wind gusts reported by NWS weather spotters. These gusts were as high as 70 mph at times.
Here’s what wind speeds were reported to the National Weather Service between 8:15 p.m. on Saturday and 8:15 p.m. on Sunday:
County | Location | Wind speed (mph) |
Adams | 5 NNE Bennett | 66 |
Arapahoe | 7 SSE Watkins | 70 |
Garfield | 3 E Rifle | 53 |
Montrose | 2 NW Montrose | 45 |
Morgan | 4 SSW Orchard | 66 |
Morgan | 6 SW Log Lane Village | 58 |
Phillips | 4 W Fairfield | 63 |
Rio Blanco | 1 S Meeker | 49 |
Sedgwick | 3 ENE Marks Butte | 70 |
Weld | 4 NW Pawnee Buttes | 60 |
Weld | 5 N Pawnee Buttes | 58 |
Yuma | 3 NNW Vernon | 61 |
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, May has the highest average number of tornadoes per month, with about 19 seen during May from 1953 through 1970. June ranks second with an average of 17 tornadoes. No other month has double-digit numbers for tornado occurrences.
However, the rest of the week is looking much calmer for Colorado: KDVR Pinpoint Weather Team Meteorologist Alden German is tracking some stray showers on Monday, but calm weather with temperatures reaching the mid-80s by next weekend.